Strawberry plant named ‘Shannon M. Kent’

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a new and distinct strawberry variety designated as ‘Shannon M. Kent’ (a.k.a. ‘110168’). The ‘Shannon M. Kent’ cultivar is primarily adapted to growing conditions of the central coast of California and produces strong vigorous plants that remain in fruit production from March through October.

Latin name of the genus and species: Fragaria x ananassa.

Varietal denomination: ‘Shannon M. Kent’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry varietydesignated as ‘Shannon M. Kent’ (a.k.a. ‘110168’), which was previouslydesignated ‘Perla’, as disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/835,705.

‘Shannon M. Kent’ (a.k.a. ‘110168’) is the result of a controlled-crossbetween a female parent cultivar designated ‘107987’ and a male parentcultivar designated ‘107801’, and was first fruited in Watsonville,Calif. growing fields. Both parents are proprietary strawberry plantvarieties made by the inventor and are not available to the public.Following selection and during testing, the plant was originallydesignated ‘110168’ and subsequently named ‘Shannon M. Kent’.

This new variety was asexually reproduced via runners (stolons) by theinventor at Watsonville, Calif. Asexual propagules from the originalsource have been tested in Watsonville growing fields and to a limitedextent, grower fields in high elevation. The properties of this varietywere found to be transmissible by such asexual reproduction. Thiscultivar is stable and reproduce true to type in successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs depict various characteristics of thecultivar as nearly true as possible to make color reproductions. The ageof the plants in FIGS. 1-3 is nine months old.

FIG. 1 shows ‘Shannon M. Kent’ plant.

FIG. 2 shows ‘Shannon M. Kent’ flowers.

FIG. 3 shows ‘Shannon M. Kent’ leaf.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinctive strawberry cultivardesignated as ‘Shannon M. Kent’ (a.k.a. ‘110168’). This cultivar isprimarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the centralcoast of California. This region provides the necessary temperaturesrequired for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain infruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Oceanprovides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and eveningchilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

The following traits and photographs in combination distinguish thestrawberry variety ‘Shannon M. Kent’ from known strawberry varieties.Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application weregrown as annuals. Any color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The age of theplants in Table 1 is nine months old.

TABLE 1 Characteristics of Shannon M. Kent Character- istic TypeCharacteristic Observation General Plant Habit annual Plant Growth Habitsemi-upright Day length neutral Planting season Fall Height 30.5 cmWidth 38.5 cm Density of foliage medium Plant vigor moderate FreezingQuality moderate Rain/weather tolerance moderate Harvest Ease moderateLeaf Number of leaflets per leaf 3 Leaflet texture soft Leaf averagewidth, 142 mm Leaf average height 76 mm Leaf Shape concave Terminalleaflet width 76 mm Terminal leaflet length 69 mm Terminal leafletlength/width ratio 1.1 Teeth per terminal leaflet 24 to 27 Shape of theterminal leaflet base obtuse to rounded Shape of terminal leaflet inconcave cross-section Shape of the terminal leaflet margin serrate tocrenate Color of upper side of leaflet RHS 137A Color of lower side ofleaflet RHS 137C Leaf blistering weak Leaf glossiness medium Leafvariegation absent Terminal Leaflet margin flat to revolute TerminalLeaflet shape orbicular Terminal Leaflet shape of apex rounded LimbsPetiole length 21.2 cm Petiole diameter 3.65 mm Petiole pubescencemedium Petiole pose of hairs slightly outwards Petiole color RHS 145BPetiolule length 0.4 to 0.7 cm Petiolule diameter 2.00 to 3.33 mmPetiolule color RHS 139D Stipule length 3.8 cm Stipule width 1.0 cmStipule pubescence medium Stipule anthocyanin present Stipule color RHS145A Peduncle average length 15.2 cm Peduncle average diameter 4.88 mmPeduncle color RHS 145B Pedicel average length 8.12 cm Pedicel averagediameter 3.1 mm Attitude of hairs on peduncle and upwards pedicelInflore- Inflorescence position relative above scence to foliage Flowerarrangement of petals touching to overlapping Flower size medium tolarge Flower diameter 3.5 to 3.9 cm Petal shape orbicular Petal apexrounded Petal margin entire Petal base shape concave Petal length 2.0 cmPetal width 2.0 cm Petal length/width ratio 1 Petal number per flower 6Upper Petal color RHS 155C Lower Petal color RHS 155C Peduncle sizemedium Floral Calyx Diameter 5.0 to 5.6 cm Corolla diameter 3.5 to 3.9cm Calyx diameter relative to corolla larger Inner calyx diameterrelative equal to smaller to outer calyx Sepal shape elliptical Sepalapex convex Sepal margin entire Sepal length 2.6 cm Sepal width 1.1 cmSepal number per flower 14 Fertility not tested Time of flowering (50%of May plants in bloom) Stigma shape capitate Stigma color RHS 15B Stylelength 1.5 mm Style color RHS 6A Ovary color RHS 145A Number of stamen25 to 30 Stamen length 3.0 to 6.0 mm Anther shape dorsifixed Anther size1.5 mm Anther color RHS 22A Filament color RHS 8C Filament length 2.5 to5.5 mm Stolon Number of Stolon 3 Stolon length 45 cm Stolon widestdiameter at leaf 3.6 mm attachment Stolon texture smooth Stolonpubescence sparse Stolon shape long cylindrical Stolon color RHS 142AStolon anthocyanin intensity Absent Fruit Average number of fruits pertruss 5 Fruit length 4.15 cm Fruit width 4.15 cm Fruit length/widthratio 1 Fruit weight 26.5 g Firmness of flesh firm Relative fruit sizemedium to large Predominant fruit shape globose conic Achenes positionslightly indented Achenes color full ripe RHS 154D Achenes color nearripe RHS 43B Achenes number per fruit about 280 Fruit skin color RHS 44BFruit flesh color RHS 44B Fruit core color RHS 43B Calyx color RHS 137APose of calyx segments reflexed Flesh firmness firm Sweetness 7.11 BrixAcidity 3.49 pH Time of flowering May Time of fruit ripening May Harvestmaturity (50% of June plants with ripe fruit Type of bearing day neutralSurface Texture smooth Fruit Appearance 6 (1-7 scale; 7 = best) Storagelongevity 10 days Percent marketable fruit 85% Horti- Average plantmarketable fruit yield 1476 g cultural (weeks 17-37) Crop suitabilityFresh market and freezer Temperature tolerance range −2° C. to 36° C.USDA Hardiness Zone adaptability 5a,5b,6a,6b,7a,7b, for annualtransplanting of California 8a,8b,9a,9b, 10a grown commercial rootstockCull rate (% Usable) 14.5%

‘Seascape’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,614) is a commercial strawberryvariety that is similar to, but distinguished from ‘Shannon M. Kent’.The fruit yield ‘Shannon M. Kent’ is greater than the fruit yield ofcomparison variety ‘Seascape’ and ‘Shannon M. Kent’ has a greaterpercent of marketable fruit than ‘Seascape’. The fruit height to fruitwidth ratio of the fruit of ‘Shannon M. Kent’ closer to unity comparedto the fruit height to fruit width ratio of the fruit of ‘Seascape’. Thepetiole of ‘Shannon M. Kent’ is thicker in diameter than the petiole of‘Seascape’. The florescence of ‘Shannon M. Kent’ extends beyond the leafcanopy and ‘Shannon M. Kent’ is easier to harvest compared to ‘Seascape’with its habit of setting fruit beneath the canopy.

The new strawberry variety ‘Shannon M. Kent’ exceeds both its parents infruit yield and the percent of marketable fruit of ‘Shannon M. Kent’ isless than the percent marketable fruit of female parent ‘107987’ andgreater than that of male parent ‘107801’. The full fruiting seasonfruit yield of ‘Shannon M. Kent’ is greater than the yield of maleparent ‘107801’, however, the male parent produced more fruit during theearly season when compared to ‘Shannon M. Kent’. The fruit of ‘ShannonM. Kent’ is firmer than male parent ‘107801’. The fruit colour of‘Shannon M. Kent’ is deeper red than the fruit colour of either of itstwo parents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberryplant named ‘Shannon M. Kent’ substantially as shown and describedherein.